In 2024, Tyra Banks made a triumphant return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after retiring from the runway in 2005. She appeared with significantly larger breasts due to a weight gain of 40-50 pounds since her retirement. Despite her physical changes, Banks felt a new sense of purpose on the runway, walking not just for herself but for women of all ages and insecurities. She described feeling like a vessel for others, rather than just focusing on herself, during her walk at the show, which was a different experience for her compared to her previous runway walks.
During her appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Banks wore a black bedazzled bra, a matching corset, leggings, and a long cape. She discussed the emotional experience of returning to the runway after nearly 20 years, expressing her surprise at being back on the Victoria’s Secret runway and reflecting on her past retirement. Banks recalled her final walk two decades ago, where she had a memorable moment raising a scepter with a ‘V’ at the end of the runway before feeling like she was done with the world of modeling. However, her return to the runway was unexpected and brought back memories of her past experiences.
Banks has been open about her weight gain over the years and how she has learned to embrace her body and see her worth beyond her physical appearance. She credits her mother for helping her through feelings of insecurity in the past when she was skinny and awkward, as well as for supporting her when she gained weight and faced criticism from the fashion industry. Banks shared how her mother helped her realize that her worth is not defined by her body size and encouraged her to find a clientele that appreciates who she is as a person.
In a social media post prior to the show, Banks expressed how good it felt to be back on the runway for Victoria’s Secret and reflected on the past press coverage surrounding her retirement from modeling. She reminisced about the extravagant nature of her final walk years ago, where she felt like she was leaving the world of modeling behind. Despite her initial decision to retire, Banks found herself drawn back to the runway and embraced the opportunity to return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, where she could showcase a different side of herself and walk for a greater purpose.
Overall, Tyra Banks’ return to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2024 was a significant moment for her as she stepped back onto the runway after nearly two decades. Despite feeling different physically due to weight gain, Banks found a new sense of purpose in her walk, representing women of all ages and insecurities. Her candidness about her body image journey and her past experiences in the fashion industry add a layer of depth to her return to the runway, showing her growth and confidence in embracing who she is beyond physical appearance. Her return to the Victoria’s Secret runway was a powerful statement of self-acceptance and empowerment.
